The ‘test case’ for anti-LGBTQ legislation in Canada

A policy in New Brunswick that took 10 years to create and was implemented by a Conservative government three years ago is now being “reviewed” by that same government.

“Policy 713” was designed to provide safety for LGBTQIA+ kids in public schools, from washroom use to students being able to change their names or pronouns without parental contact. Premier Blaine Higgs has been vague about what the review entails, and phrases such as “parents have a right to know” have been used.

Dale Smith, a parliamentary press gallery journalist and national columnist for Xtra, says that the Premier has not explained why the policy needs to be under review.

“Policy 713 was entirely designed for these students, who don’t have safe environments at home, to be able to at least express themselves or be themselves in a school environment so that they can focus on actually learning rather than having to hide their identities and who they are,” Smith says.

The review of “Policy 713” in New Brunswick is the first recent example in Canada of the trend of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation that’s swept across the United States. As we begin Pride month celebrations, this review will test whether we’ll go down the same road.

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